Boris Johnson ambushes Nick Clegg during radio phone-in

Nick Clegg has fielded a call from Boris Johnson on his live radio phone-in, with the mayor of London challenging the deputy prime minister to get his ministerial colleagues out of chauffeur-driven cars.

The Liberal Democrat leader did not appear to be expecting the intervention from Mr Johnson, who posed his question via a pre-recorded message, but instantly recognised the voice of ‘Boris from Islington’.

Nick Clegg noted how it was ‘fortunate’ for the mayor that he did not appear on the live show (Picture: PA)

‘Hi Nick, it’s Boris here from Islington,’ the mayor said on LBC 97.3 this morning.

‘I just want to ask you when are you going to get all those government ministers out of their posh limos and onto public transport like everybody else?

‘How can we possibly expect government to vote for increases in infrastructure spending which we need in this city and upgrading the Tube, which we all need, when they sit in their chauffeur-driven limousines – paid for by the taxpayer – rather than getting down on public transport with the rest of us?

When told Mr Johnson was not on the line but had given a pre-recorded message, Mr Clegg commented: ‘That’s easy for him, isn’t it?’

He continued: ‘Boris, if you’re listening – and I suspect he isn’t – I think we have actually cut the amount of taxpayer money which is used to pay for the cars and everything for ministers by, I think, about 70 per cent. We have massively slashed it and changed it.

‘Clearly, ministers – myself included – drive in cars, but not all the time. I am about to jump into a train to go up to Sheffield this afternoon.’